White-capped water redstart

The beautiful white-capped redstart or white-capped water redstart (Phoenicurus leucocephalus) is a passerine bird of the Old World flycatcher family Muscicapidae native to the Indian Subcontinent and Southeast Asia and to certain regions of Central Asia. Both genders are black with red underparts and white crowns atop their heads. 

Males' white-capped redstart have a larger white pattern on top of the head and brown or red spots under the wings. It is found in the Indian Subcontinent and Southeast Asia, as well as some adjoining areas. The species ranges across Afghanistan, Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Cambodia, India, Laos, Myanmar, Nepal, Tajikistan, Thailand, Tibet, and Vietnam. Its natural habitat is temperate forests. 

White-capped water redstart species was formerly placed in the monotypic genus Chaimarrornis but was moved to Phoenicurus based on the results of a molecular phylogenetic study published in 2010.

The Common iora

Cock: (a) In summer upper plumage, wings, and tail are black; lower parts bright yellow. There are two white bars in the wing. (b) In winter the black parts of the head and back are replaced by yellowish-green.

Hen: Upper parts, wings, and tail green; lower parts yellow. Two white bars in the wing. A little bird,” writes Eha, “like a tomtit, in black and yellow, followed by its mate in green and yellow, can be nothing else than the Iora.” Builds at the beginning of the hot weather a very neat and tiny cup-shaped nest.

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The Indian White-eye, or Spectacle Bird

A greenish-yellow bird, with a bright yellow throat and a patch of yellow under the tail. The rest of the lower plumage is greyish white. The most noticeable feature of the bird is a ring of white feathers around the eye. Hence its popular name. White-eyes go about in large flocks; they feed largely on insects which they pick from off the leaves of trees.

Everyone utters unceasingly a cheeping note. At the nesting season, which is usually at the beginning of the hot weather, the cock sings a sweet little song. The nest is a beautiful little cup suspended from a forked branch. Two pale blue eggs are usually laid.

The Malabar Whistling Thrush, or Idle Schoolboy.

The Malabar Whistling Thrush, or Idle Schoolboy. A blackbird with large cobalt blue patches on the forehead and the wings. Small patches of the same hue occur on other parts of the body. It is usually occurring in the neighborhood of shaded streams. Its note is a striking whistle.

The Pied Myna

The pied myna or Asian pied starling (Gracupica contra) is a species of starling found in the Indian subcontinent and Southeast Asia. They are usually found in small groups mainly on the plains and low foothills. They are often seen within cities and villages although they are not as bold as the common myna. They produce a range of calls made up of liquid notes. Several slight plumage variations exist in the populations and about five subspecies are named.

Rufous Hummingbird in my backyard. Mendocino County Northern California

Hummingbirds Rufous Hummingbird in my backyard. Mendocino County Northern California

Hummingbird nests are about the size of a pingpong ball

Hummingbird nests are about the size of a pingpong ball If you love hummingbirds as much as we do, consider giving yourself a gift our new book, The Best of Birds & Blooms, which contains great tips for attracting these tiny birds.

"Boo"

A belligerent raven decides to 'drop in' on a resting snowy owl. I was quite astonished by how big the raven was next to the snowy. The snowy stuck around and weathered the harassment until it got to be too much. It was an entertaining encounter to witness. Well, maybe not for the owl.

Photo Credit: Peter Brannon  

“Cuban Trogon” World’s Most Fascinating Colorful Bird

I always believe nature is full of amazing color, and when I see colorful birds, it’s really amazing how beautiful our motherland is. The Cuban Trogon is one of most beautiful species of bird belongs to Trogonidae family. It is also called Tocoror (Priotelus Temnurus), actually endemic to the Caribbean island of Cuba. It is Cuba national bird, and its habitats are dry forests, moist forests, and heavily degraded former forest. It is well spread known to be Cuban Trogon, while in Spanish it is called Tocororo or Tocoloro. The name is actually derived from its repeated call, toco-toco-tocoro-tocoro. Its scientific name is Priotelus temnurus which is very infrequently used in referring to this bird. The colorful Cuban Trogon with a green back, blue crown, red belly and beak, and white throat and chest. Interestingly these colors mimic the colors of the Cuban flag, and that’s why it is selected to be national bird of Cuba. This bird has a long fluffy tail, truly unique amongst trogons. The bird is between ten and eleven inches from beak to tail. When these birds travel, they prefer in pairs flight, creating a heavy noise because of their rough, graceless flying technique. This is very common bird and can be seeing all over the island of Cuba. This bird is rarely seeing on the Isle of Youth Guajaba, Romano, and Sabinal. This bird prefers wet and dry forests of all altitudes and likes to be in the shade as opposed to the sun. The Cuban Trogon nests in already created crevices in trees, primarily abandoned wood pecker holes. The Cuban Trogon feeds on flowers, fruits, and insects. Unlike most birds, it is proficient of hovering while eating. Source: Charismatic Planet